Alpha Wingman

“We’re AOG.”

It’s the call that demands immediate action. An aircraft is grounded (AOG), schedules are on hold and passengers are waiting. Aircraft operators scramble to find the right mechanic to replace a tire or repair bird strike damage before the delay disrupts the rest of the day.

This chaos has long plagued business aviation until Alpha Wingman decided to rewrite the playbook.

Much like Uber simplified the search for a ride, Alpha Wingman delivers immediate solutions for maintenance emergencies. With a single request, operators see multiple qualified, vetted providers respond in real time, complete with pricing, travel costs and live arrival times.

Behind every response is a provider pre-cleared with alcohol and drug testing certifications, insurance and compliance paperwork on file. Backed by a global network of more than 1,100 service providers across 39 countries and supporting over 5,000 aircraft, Alpha Wingman keeps aircraft in the air and stress off the ground, giving teams clarity and confidence when it matters most.

“When we started seven years ago, we wanted a platform where all MROs and service providers, big or small, have an equal chance to win work, whether it’s a scheduled event, an AOG or even parts,” says Andy Nixon, president.

For operators, that translates into far more choice. Instead of relying only on the big MROs that spend millions on marketing and convention booths, Alpha Wingman surfaces smaller shops with strong reputations that often operate below the radar. By connecting those dots, the platform acts as a one-stop shop for both scheduled and unscheduled work.

From a 10,000-foot view, the process is simple: if an operator needs scheduled maintenance or a pre-buy inspection, they upload their due list once with target downtime dates and quote deadlines. With a single click, the request goes out to all vetted providers whose capabilities match the job. Within days, operators may receive five or six competitive quotes that can be compared side by side, complete with reviews, certifications and direct links to each provider’s website and social pages. The result is a more informed decision, free from the bias of who spends the most on advertising.

But Alpha Wingman realized that improving the demand side was only half the equation, service providers needed better operational tools. About a year and a half ago, Alpha Wingman expanded its reach with Alpha Workforce. Now adopted by ten MROs, including Bombardier as an early catalyst, the app brings efficiency behind the scenes. Managers can track technicians in real time, message teams on the road and view availability status; whether a tech is on duty, off duty or on vacation. For a mobile workforce, that visibility transforms responsiveness.

And for operators, that value shows up where it matters most; when an aircraft is unexpectedly grounded. One real-world case illustrates the difference. A large charter management company faced an AOG event in North Carolina with no approved vendors nearby. They called the major providers, but help was hours away.

Through Alpha Wingman, they connected with a local service provider within minutes. A technician arrived in 20 minutes, completed repairs that afternoon and the aircraft was airborne that evening.

When asked about the outcome, the operator estimated the savings at more than $60,000 in money they would have otherwise spent repositioning another aircraft to keep the customer moving. For the passenger, none of the drama mattered; they simply needed to reach Kansas on time. One ping on Alpha Wingman kept the trip intact for the operator, eliminating stress and protecting revenue.

Stories like these keep the Alpha Wingman team motivated. Instead of overworked maintenance controllers spending hours Googling, emailing and calling, operators now make one click, see immediate options and confidently move forward.

“We tend to be laid back and as stress-free as possible,” says Nixon. “Whenever we deal with someone, we form a close bond on a personal and business level. Word gets around and those relationships mean everything.”

Alpha Wingman is about giving operators time back. Nixon and his wife founded the company, which has grown organically without outside investors for seven years. Independence maintains a customer-driven approach, proving there’s more than one path to building a business.